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Sheepish, Nice scale detail, I particularly like the radar, only I don't think they had them in those days.

First flight on my Smith Mini plane today, bought it second hand and it was obviously built quite a few years ago and had already been converted to electric. I have put a 900kv motor in it on a 3300 4s pack and 11x8.5 APC e prop, performance is good but flight times are only 4 mins on this set up. Handled this breezy conditions very nicely and despite being a portly 6 lbs 2oz it slows up nicely when landing.

I crashed my Funcub a few weeks ago, attempted a repair which was unsatisfactory, so looked around for a replacement. I soon found that, due to Covid, stocks of most high-wing Cub type planes were non-existent. The only thing which appealed was the latest model of Multiplex Funcub. The problem there was that it really needed a larger battery than those I have and the motor mount isn't compatible with the motors I have, and I really don't want to buy more equipment when I've got perfectly serviceable items in stock. So, the answer's obvious, use the salvable parts, wings, tail-feathers and all the electro-mechanical parts from the Funcub and build a new fuselage. It's taken a bit longer to build than I'd hoped but I maidened it today. It flies beautifully so I'm really pleased with it. The only problem is that the nice shiny fuselage makes the wings and tail look decidedly scruffy!

As an aside these are available on ebay direct from china for about a third of that cost.

Yes, you can use the same receiver in different models, but you'll have to rebind each time you change. Also note that with the Dx6i the failsafe is set at binding, so make sure the throttle stick is in the closed position during binding. If it is an IC model and you have to reverse the throttle channel, then you need to rebind so the receiver learns the correct failsafe setting. I have 2 Dx6is and apart from the breaking trim rockers and roller they have been very good.

Hi Skippers and yes you could have say 10 models and their setting in each model memory in the TX, then just keep rebinding each time, but you would be missing a very important and beneficial feature. When your Speky TX binds with a RX it locks it to that model in the memory, if you select the wrong model or TX model memory it will just NOT connect....this is absolute, so you can't fly until you have selected the right model on the TX. Does not sound much but it means you don't have to mess around setting servos on the model with direction/throw etc Other benefits are that trim, throws, expo, mixes, throttle hold and other settings are all set per model so you fine tune each model in its model memory settings. For the cost and convenience I have a RX in each model and enjoy the features of model match.

Had three successful maiden flights yesterday, but it will be a few days before I have any pictures. Here's a preflight snap of my Wot 4 Foam-E rescue though. The model was a crash victim, one of several that I had for the cost of a healthy donation to Parkinson's research at a deceased clubmate's estate sale a couple of years ago. The model was pretty badly damaged and Les had made some modifications to it -some good, like the fantastic "Big Knob" tm wing mounting bolt that provides easy one handed wing retention and some not so good, like several big cooling holes poked through the fuselage sides with a soldering iron. The motor, motor mount and front end were goosed, aileron torn off, elevator halves disconnected, undercarriage torn off and the model had a really scruffy, rattle can paint job. I repaired the front end, added a cowl, put some silicone hinging to reattach the torn off aileron, filled in the fuselage holes and fixed the elevator joiner. For the paint job I went over the spray job with brush painted primary colours, but the yellow didn't cover some of the semi-random graffiti-style spray lines. I covered some of those with a Mondrian inspired set of lines, applied with a Tamiya dark blue paint marker. I liked the look of that, so used it to outline the other coloured areas and I'm quite pleased with the effect. It's still a bit scruffy, but it really stands out in the air. I was worried that the paint might have added too much weight, but the model is a delight to fly and I'm really pleased. Just like my Dallas Doll P-51 refurb, which was another of Les's crash victims, it will make me smile to think of a much-missed lovely man and a very enthusiastic modeller every time I fly the Wot 4 Foam-E. ?

Superb !

OK folks... As John S has already said, we're back racing again! The summer break is over, and it's time for me to remind you all; Don't forget your predictions! It's Spa this weekend, and P! saw Bottas the setting fastest lap with Verstappen second. Hamilton was apparently on course to beat Bottas' time, but was blocked by Latifi and narrowly avoided a collision. P2 saw Vertappen setting the fastest time, ahead of Bottas and Hamilton - though not by much, just 4 and 7 hundredths of a second respectively. Qualifying is at 2pm BST tomorrow, with the race at the same time on Sunday.

Skippers The manual is showing a typical IC powered set up where it is common to use a RC battery with a switch mounted externally. Using an ESC with BEC everything is off when the battery is removed. ? With a second hand DX6i be aware the Tx aerial is a bit delicate. The wire that runs up throught the aerial flexible joint is very delicate and easily gets broken if the joint is accidentally pulled apart. It is interesting that when the DX8 came out second hand DX6i were pretty cheap but now despite them being long out of production prices are rising as people realise just how good a 'simple' computer radio it was.

My F86 is based on a Canadair CL-13B Sabre Mk.6, N8686F. The plane was used by Boeing as a chase plane and flew alongside the first 747 flight in February 1969. As this has been my first PSSA build, I followed everybody’s build blog’s and found all your detailed explanations and photos really helpful, Thank you. Its covered in glass cloth & sprayed with acrylic paint. Weight is 5lb with 100g in the nose to balance. 3d printed pilot from Andy Meade & homemade seat. It’s just 2 channel with Ailerons & Elevator.

Few shots from my friday afternoon session. I dont have many photos of my sea fury despite its 8 years of service. Wanting at least some nice photos for posterity i employed clubmate Nick to do some pointing. The poor old Fury only had 2 flights last year and one was cut short when the spinner flew off damaging the prop. With various lockdown's and what not it didnt fly until friday so its only had 5 flights since late 2019! Lighting conditions were poor, but its not too bad and it was great to get it flying again.

Hi DD While I agree with John's thoughts on set up I would have to say that setting up a model is not a one size fits all scenario as we all have different reaction times etc. On some of my models the "high" rates may be set at say75% with 25% expo and "low" rates set at 55% with 20%. Some have no expo,its a personal thing like say adjusting your cars driving seat. Don't forget that suggested throws are a "starting point" and not set in stone. Often with some far east produced models these sugested settings are totally wrong along with CG settings and can catch out the inexperienced flyer. As for engine size, the AcrowWots I've owned tested and helped setup for others have flown best on a good 60 to 70 fs or a good 46 to 60 2s. Again just my opinion as it's a personal choice. The over powered brigade that fit bigger engines IMO just make a nice flying model feel like a flying brick. Bigger engines might give fantastic vertical climb and hike in speed but the overall effect is they make the model too heavy and ruin its low speed handling , a bit like driving a dragster on the daily commute ! Have fun

Heres my latest creation, not a build, but make over of a Chris Foss Acro-wot foam e

Although my main interest is building and flying RC aircraft, I sometimes like to go back to the early days and do a bit of free flight. Since losing our old flying field the club has now got a new field which is very large so I hope to be able to use it for a bit of free flight. My old Vic Smeed "Miss 38" was looking very tatty so I decided on another of his designs and bought a plan of " Mam'selle'. I have used my ED bee as a power unit and am now waiting for a calm evening to test it.

Depron TSR2, in the first version I tried to cram two 50mm fans in and had to stagger them with a shared efflux. The result was disappointingly weak . Second version I widened the fuselage to give each fan a proper thrust tube, re-using the flying surfaces and forward fuselage. Much improved thrust and a forty five degree take off, however it was a bit of a struggle after that probably due to the small wing. MK3 will be with an enlarged wing. photos by Steve Firth